Micoton 7, that's what Sun Odyssey 479 that Boats.com readers know about. This 100% cruising boat, will embark on the transatlantic race with the ARC fleet in November 2017 . To have fun and to be fast, this sailboat will do this sailing in regatta mode with a crew made up of father and son (find here the subject presenting the project).
In a previous topic we had already introduced you how the Micoton 7 was prepared for this adventure . A strict preparation that does not leave much room for improvisation.
At the end of July, the delivery to the Canaries was an opportunity to validate all these preparations offshore. It was an opportunity to take stock of what has worked very well and the other little problems..
Autonomous thanks to the hydrogenerator!
If there's one purchase Jehan doesn't regret, it's his Watt and Sea hydrogenerator. This (the cruising model) is installed directly on the transom in the center of the boat. Remember that the bathing platform was unloaded for weight reasons which simplifies the installation.
During the whole descent along Portugal and towards the Canaries, Micoton never had to use the engine to recharge the batteries. And yet there are consumers on board. The pilot and the fridge are on the road 24 hours a day, as well as the PC and its large screen for navigation. Often the music, the microwave for cooking.
As soon as the boat goes faster than 6.7 N, it switches to positive energy. This speed has always been reached and exceeded throughout the entire downwind delivery.
A NKE pilot or nothing!
The second surprise is the quality of the pilot. The Sun Odyssey comes with electronics and a Raymarine driver as standard. This pilot stayed on board, along with a NKE pilot. The latter is a world apart from the previous one. Although Jehan admits that he spent hours understanding the NKE's tuning, once it is properly set up, the yacht - which weighs 11 tonnes - sails under spinnaker at 10 or 12 N with confidence in the sea.
The NKE pilot uses the same actuator as the Raymarine. For safety reasons, a switch allows you to switch from one pilot to the other without any connection. This switch has made it possible to carry out a comparison for the Raymarine. With the NKE, the Sun Odyssey stays on course without giving a helm stroke. "Amazing" adds a cheerful Jehan.
What didn't work out so well..
This 4-day convoy from Casquai to the Canaries was carried out with a northerly wind reaching 25 N at times. All downwind under spinnaker. Micoton7 is equipped with 2 new asymmetric spinnakers ordered from Delta Voile: one light and one heavy. Alas the tack of these two spinnakers have both given up. Over-sale, bad conditions, manufacturing defect? Let's hope that this unpleasant surprise will not spoil the transatlantic race once the spinnakers have been repaired..
In addition, a few pieces of equipment such as a sheave and a wedge also played the part of troublemakers. But there's nothing abnormal when you're shooting a boat in regatta mode.
As a bonus, a short video about the atmosphere on board during this fast convoy.
